EEE 


SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, 
COMMONLY 


CALLED QUAKERS. 


GERMANTOWN: 
THe Guipr STEAM Print, ADAMS AND HARVEY STREETS. 
1891. 


5 i es 
OLE Basi Ne ORD Pind Usp DISy 


There are many persons who may occasion- 
ally have attended a ‘‘ Quakers’ Meeting,’’ and 
others who are brought into contact with mem- 
bers of this Society in various ways, who yet 
appear but little acquainted with the religious 
principles professed by them. The question is 
accordingly often asked, ‘‘ What are the Qua- 
kers, and what do they believe?’’ The object 
of this little tract is to give, very briefly, an 
outline of their Christian principles, and in so 
- doing, to refer the reader to Holy Scripture in 
confirmation of them. 

In the first place, as to the name, ‘‘ Quakers.’’ 
It was given to members of this Society two 
hundred years ago, by a persecuting magistrate 
at Derby, because George Fox, an eminent 
minister of that day, ‘‘ bid him tremble at the 
word of the Lord.’’ The name was at once 
adopted as a term of ridicule; but they have 
always been known amongst themselves by the 
endearing name of ‘‘ Friends.’’ 

The Society of Friends believe in GoD THE 
FATHER, Almighty, the Maker and Preserver of 


VIBRARY U. OF 1. URBANA Gia 


4 THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, 


all men; and in His Son, Jesus CurisT, our 
Lord, and in the Hoty Spirit, the Comforter. 
They believe that Jesus Christ came into the 
world, took our nature upon Him, and ‘tasted 
death for every man ;’’ being a perfect sacrifice 
for sin, and a perfect example and pattern to 
His people in all ages ;—that none can be saved 
from sin in any other way than by ‘‘ repentance 
towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus 
Christ.’’ They also believe that ‘‘ He ascended 
up on high,’’ that ‘‘ He sitteth on the right 
hand of God,’’ and that ‘‘ He ever liveth to 
make intercession for us.’”’ 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only- 


begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should 
not perish, but have everlasting life-—John iii. 16. 


Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is 
none other name under heaven, given among men, where- 
~ by we must be saved.—Acts iv. 12. 


For there is one God, and one Mediator between God 
and men, the man Christ Jesus.—1 Timothy ii. 5. 


Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he 
loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our 
sins.—I John iv. 10. 

Friends believe, also, that as Christ died for 
all men, so has a measure of light been given 
to all, by the operation of the Holy Spirit on 
their hearts and consciences; and that there is 
not a human being in the world who has not 
been visited by this light, or who has not, in a 


COMMONLY CALLED QUAKERS. 5 


measure, God’s law written in the heart. They 
believe that it is the Holy Spirit alone who can 
convince the world of sin, or bear witness in 
the hearts of any, to the pardoning love of 
God, through Jesus Christ. 


That was the true Light, which lighteth every man 
that cometh into the world.—John i. 9. 


For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath 
‘appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodli- 
ness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, right- 
eously, and godly, in this present world; looking for 
that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the 
great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ ; who gave him- 
self for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, 
and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of 
good works.—Titus ii. 11-14. 


Friends believe in the Divine inspiration and 
authority of the Old and New Testament, and 
‘‘that they are able to make wise unto salva- 
tion, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”’ 
They regard it as a great blessing that they are 
now so freely circulated; and it is a duty they 
enjoin on all their members to ‘‘search them 
daily,’’ with earnest desires for the illuminating 
power of the Holy Spirit. 

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is 
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for 
instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may 


be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.— 
11 Timothy iii. 16, 17. 


6 THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, 


For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of 
man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved 
by the Holy Ghost.—11 Peter i. 21. 


Friends have always regarded the public wor- 
ship of Almighty God as an inestimable privi- 
lege, as well as a bounden duty. ‘They there- 
fore meet publicly ‘‘on the first day of the 
week,’’ and also on some day in the middle of 
the week; yet they believe that when assem- 
bled together, it is not necessary that any form 
of singing, prayer, or preaching should be gone 
through, to enable them to perform acceptable 
worship, but that the worship of God ‘in 
spirit and in truth’’ may be without words at 
all. The worshipper is the creature ; the object 
of worship is the Creator of all things ;—the 
one weak and sinful, the other Almighty, and 
‘‘of purer eyes than to behold iniquity.’’ Be- 
lieving it to be the good pleasure of our heav- 
enly Father that every man should have access 
to Him, through Jesus Christ, by the one Spirit, 
Friends believe it right to wait in silence before 
Him when publicly assembled, that each be- 
liever may for himself offer the sacrifice of ‘‘a 
broken and contrite heart,’’ be prepared with 
offerings of prayer and praise, and receive the 
spiritual food most convenient for him. They 
refer with comfort to many passages of scrip- 
ture in confirmation of this practice. 


COMMONLY CALLED QUAKERS. 7 


Lead me in thy truth, and teach me; for thou art the 
God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.— 
Psalm xxv. 5. 


Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall 
strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.— 
Psalm xvii. 14. 


Be still, and know that I am God.—Psalm xlvi. Io. 


My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expecta- 
tion is from him.—Psalm I]xii. 5. 


Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of 
their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand 
of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our 
God, until that he have mercy upon us.—Psalm cxxiii. 2. 


And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; 
we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the 
Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and 
rejoice in his salvation.—Isaiah xxv. 9. 


But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true wor- 
shippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: 
for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a 
Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in 
spirit and in truth.—John iv. 23, 24. 

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth 
nothing.—John vi. 63. 

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for 
we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but 
the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groan- 
ings which cannot be uttered.—Romans viii. 26. 


But the anointing which ye have received of him 
abideth in you; and ye need not that any man teach 
you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all 
things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath 
taught you, ye shall abide in him.—1 John ii. 27. 


8 THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, 


Friends believe in the supreme authority and 
continued administration of the Lord Jesus 
Christ, as the head of the church; and that no 
worship ought now to be made dependent upon 
the presence of any one man or order of men— 
no service or stated vocal utterance in the con- 
gregation, ought to be allowed to interfere with 
the operations of the Lord’s free Spirit. ‘They 
thankfully recognize, as a means of edification, 
the preaching of the Gospel, and offerings of 
public prayer or thanksgiving, under the re- 
newed anointing of the Holy Ghost; but they 
dare not make these dependent upon human 
arrangements, or exclude by any such arrange- 
ments, the unseen but not unfelt ministrations 
of the Spirit of Christ dividing to every man 
severally, as He will. According to the declara- 
tion of the apostle, that ‘in Christ Jesus there 
is neither male nor female,’’ Friends believe that 
Christian women, as well as men, may be called 
to the work of the ministry. 


Whilst they believe that those who are called 
to be ministers among them should be ‘‘ esteem- 
ed very highly for their work’s sake,’’ yet, see- 
ing that the gifts of God cannot be purchased 
with money, their ministers are not paid for 
their services.: They consider such payments 
tend to interfere with the faithful preaching of 
the truth, and that they are contrary to the 


COMMONLY CALLED QUAKERS. 9 


example of Christ’s apostles. A reference to 
the Acts of the Apostles will show that the 
Apostle Paul, although charged with so great a 
commission, did not disdain, for years together, 
to labor with ‘‘ his own hands,’’ that he ‘‘ might 
be chargeable to no man.’’ Nevertheless, when 
any of their ministers are called, by religious 
duty, to leave their homes and preach the gos- 
pel either in their own country or in foreign 
lands, their brethren cheerfully supply them 
with the needful means. 


Freely ye have received, freely give-—Matthew x. 8. 


I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. 
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have minis- 
tered unto my necessities, and to them that were with 
me. I have showed you all things, how that so labour- 
ing ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the 
words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed 
to give than to receive.—Acts xx. 33, 34, 35. 


As every man hath received the gift, even so minister 
the same one to another, as good stewards of the mani- 
fold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as 
the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it 
as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all 
things may be glorified through Christ Jesus, to whom 
be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.— 
1 Peter iv.10, 11. 


Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the 
oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not 
for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being 
lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the 
flock.—ti Peter v. 2, 3. 


IO THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, 


Friends believe in the ‘‘One Baptism’’ of 
the Spirit, and that the true baptism which can 
save the soul is not the outward washing with 
water, but that cleansing and purifying of the 
Holy Spirit, so often promised as the peculiar 
blessing of the gospel dispensation ; and that_ 
the ‘‘ outward sign’’ may too often be a substi- 
tute for the ‘* inward and spiritual grace.’’ Sub- 
mission to this work of the Holy Spirit is a 
consequence of the true reception of Christ as 
our Saviour. 

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance ; but 
he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes 
I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the 
Holy Ghost and with fire: whose fan is in his hand, and 
he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat 
into his garner; but he will burn up the chaff with un- 
quenchable fire.—Matthew iil. I1, 12. 

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now 
save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, 
but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the 
resurrection of Jesus Christ.—1 Peter iii. 21. 

But after that the kindness and love of God our 
Saviour toward men appeared, not by works of right- 
eousness which we have done, but according to his 
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and 
renewing of the Holy Ghost.—Titus iii. 4, 5. 

With regard to the observance usually called 
the ‘‘ Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper,’’ Friends 
believe that communion with Christ is not to 
be had by eating bread and drinking wine, or 


COMMONLY CALLED QUAKERS. II 


any outward performance, practiced, too, per- 
haps only a few times during the year. But 
they do believe that unless a man truly, and in 
a spiritual sense, ‘‘ eat the flesh and drink the 
blood of the Son of Man, he hath no life in 
him.’’ They believe this privilege is to be en- 
joyed, not in the performance of an outward 
ceremony, nor exclusively in a place of worship, 
but that all who, in every place, hear and obey 
the voice of their Lord and Master, do indeed 
sup with Him, according to His promise in the 
book of Revelations: ‘* Behold I stand at the 
door and knock; if any man hear my voice, 
and open the door, I will come in to him, and 
will sup with him, and he with me.”’ 


Friends regard the eating of the passover 
supper by our Lord and His disciples, when He 
broke bread and drank of the cup, as the ful- 
filment of a Jewish ordinance, and that the 
observance is no more binding than the service 
of ‘‘ washing one another’s feet,’’ which ap- 
pears to have been enjoined in quite as plain 
terms as the other ceremony; yet almost all 
Christians have disused the practice of washing 
each other’s feet. Though Friends fully main- 
tain the truths these rites are designed to em- 
body, they believe that their value consists in 
their being understood in a spiritual sense, 
such as is evidently indicated in the following 
passages :— 


12 DHE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, 


Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto 
you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but 
my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For 
the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, 
and giveth life unto the world. 

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he 
that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that 
believeth on me shall never thirst. —John vi. 32-35. 

I am the living bread which came down from heaven: 
if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and 
the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give 
forthe lifesor the world2 > "sii. «oe Then. lestisesaid 
unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat 
the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, ye 
have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drink- 
eth my blood, hath eternal life: and I will raise him up 
at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my 
blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and 
drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.— 
John vi. 51-56. 

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth 
nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are 
spirit, and they are life.—John vi. 63. 

Most people are aware that the Society of 
Friends object to the use of a//7 OATHS, even in 
a court of law. Their conscientious scruples in 
this particular have been so far respected by 
the legislature of this country, that they are 
excused from taking oaths in all cases where it 
is required of others, and are allowed to make 
an affirmation instead. Friends believe that 
the commands of our Saviour against the use 
of oaths are so plain and positive, that they can 
do no other than yield obedience to them. 


COMMONLY CALLED QUAKERS. 13 


Again ye have heard that it hath been said by them of 
old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt per- 
form unto the Lord thine oaths: but I say unto you, 
Swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God’s 
throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; neither 
by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. WNei- 
ther shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst 
not make one hair white or black. But let your commu- 
nication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more 
than these cometh of evil.—Matthew v. 33-37. 


But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither 
by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other 
oath; but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; lest 
_ ye fall into condemnation.—James v. 12. 


Friends believe war to be utterly opposed to 
the Gospel of Christ, and therefore unlawful to 
the Christian. They believe that the teaching 
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and that 
of His apostles, is calculated to lead men from 
a trust in ‘‘an arm of flesh’’ to an entire de- 
pendence upon God; and true Christians well 
know that ‘‘ all things work together for good 
to them that love God,’’ and so are delivered 
from that slavish fear of man, which leads to 
the use of weapons of warfare. Seeing, too, 
that the apostle declares that the weapons of 
the Christian’s warfare ‘‘are not carnal, but 
mighty through God to the pulling down of 
strongholds,’’ Friends believe that the evils of 
the world can never be cured by force of arms, 
or social or religious liberty promoted thereby. 


I4 THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, 


They think they are acting out both the letter 
and spirit of the New Testament in refusing 
under any circumstances to bear arms, believing 
that ‘‘no weapons of defense will be found so 
effectual in promoting the good of all mankind 
as the exercise of Christian forbearance in the 
suffering of injuries, the absence of revenge, 
the return of good for evil, and the ever-opera- 
ting love of God and man.’’ 

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love 
thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto 
you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do 
good to them that hate you, and pray for them which de- 
spitefully use you and persecute you.— Matthew v. 43, 44. 

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men 
should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the 
law and the prophets.— Matthew vii. 12. 

And he answering, said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy 
God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with 
all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neigh- 
bour as thyself.—Luke x. 27. 

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give 
place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; 
I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy 
hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so 
doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not 
overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.—Ro- 
mans xli. 19, 20, 21. 

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness 
of God.—James i. 20. 

And this commandment have we from him, That he 
who loveth God love his brother also.—1 John iv. 21. 


COMMONLY CALLED QUAKERS. 15 


Members of the Society of Friends no doubt 
are often considered singular in using ‘‘ thee’’ 
and ‘‘thou’’ in the place of ‘‘ you,’’ and also 
in not giving complimentary titles to their fel- 
low-men. They believe it to be more scriptural 
to do so; and that plain and truthful speaking 
is enjoined by the spirit and precepts of Christ 
and His apostles. And although they prescribe 
no form of dress or speech as a condition of 
membership, they enjoin upon their members 
the practice of simplicity and truthfulness, as 
becoming the Christian, and that those forms 
of speech which tend to flattery, exaggeration, 
and untruthfulness, should be avoided. Vain 
compliments, superfluous or gay apparel, they 
discountenance, as inconsistent with the sim- 
plicity of a Christian life. 

But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, 
even Christ; and all ye are brethren.— Matthew xxiii. 8. 


Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which 
is evil; cleave to that which is good.— Romans xii. 9. 


For the fruit of the spirit is all Suara and right- 
eousness and truth.—Ephesians v. 9. 


Let your moderation be known unto all men. The 
Lord is at hand.—Philippians iv. 5. 


Whoso adorning, let it not be that outward adorning 
of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of put- 
ting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the 
heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the orna- 
ment of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of 
God of great price.—1 Peter iii. 3, 4 


16 THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 


Thus the reader is presented with a very 
brief view of some of the Christian principles 
of the Society of Friends, or ‘‘ Quakers ;’’ and 
he is affectionately invited to ‘‘ Search the 
Scriptures’’ for himself, and ‘‘see whether 
these things are so.”’ 


It may be proper to explain, for the informa- » 


tion of some who ask, ‘‘ May any one attend 
a Quaker’s meeting ?’’ that their places of wor- 
ship are open as publicly as these of any other 
denomination ; and that the company of any 
who may be disposed to attend their meetings 
is always acceptable. 


In nearly every Friends’ meeting-house there 
is a library of books, explanatory of their prin- 
ciples; and should any person be desirous of 
further information on them, he may obtain 


the loan of such books gratuitously. 
Wits 


i? yar 


